Yankees' Saturday win longest 9-inning game in pitch clock era

The game lasted 3 hours and 49 minutes, the longest 9-inning game since the pitch clock was introduced in 2023.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 5:33pm

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The New York Yankees' 9-7 win over the Miami Marlins on Saturday night lasted 3 hours and 49 minutes, making it the longest 9-inning game since Major League Baseball instituted the pitch clock rule in 2023. The game featured 379 total pitches from 13 different pitchers, with the Marlins walking 10 batters and leaving 21 runners on base.

Why it matters

The pitch clock was introduced to MLB in 2023 with the goal of speeding up the pace of play and reducing game times. This record-breaking 9-inning game shows that even with the new rule in place, long, drawn-out games can still occur, raising questions about the effectiveness of the pitch clock in achieving its intended purpose.

The details

The Yankees' 9-7 win over the Marlins on Saturday night lasted 3 hours and 49 minutes, making it the longest 9-inning game since the pitch clock was instituted in 2023. The previous high for a 9-inning game since the pitch clock started was 3 hours and 45 minutes for an Oakland Athletics game in 2024. The Yankees and Marlins combined for 379 pitches by 13 different pitchers, and the Marlins pitchers walked 10 batters, leaving a total of 21 runners on base.

  • The pitch clock was instituted in Major League Baseball for the 2023 season.

The players

New York Yankees

A professional baseball team based in the Bronx, New York that competes in the American League East division of Major League Baseball.

Miami Marlins

A professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida that competes in the National League East division of Major League Baseball.

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The takeaway

This record-breaking game highlights the ongoing challenge MLB faces in balancing the pace of play with the natural ebb and flow of baseball. While the pitch clock has helped reduce game times on average, it's clear that long, drawn-out games can still occur, suggesting more adjustments may be needed to truly achieve the league's goal of a quicker, more efficient game experience.